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Portable method of measuring gaseous acetone concentrations
Adam D Worrall1, Jonathan A Bernstein, Anastasios P Angelopoulos
1Chemical Engineering Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
Talanta
|May 28, 2013
Summary
A novel breath analysis method uses a polymer membrane to detect acetone, offering a simple, non-invasive tool for monitoring diabetes. This portable device provides real-time insights into diabetic control without complex equipment.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Medical Diagnostics
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Acetone in human breath is a key indicator for monitoring diabetes mellitus control.
- Current breath acetone measurement methods often require complex instrumentation and pre-concentration, limiting point-of-care applications.
- Non-invasive, portable diagnostic tools are needed for real-time patient monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, portable optical sensing device for the non-invasive measurement of acetone in human breath.
- To enable real-time analysis of acetone concentrations for improved diabetes management.
Main Methods:
- Immobilization of resorcinol reagent within a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer membrane.
- Utilizing a controlled organic synthesis reaction between immobilized resorcinol and acetone in a dry carrier gas.
- Detection of a visible spectrum color change in the reaction product (flavan) for quantitative acetone measurement.
Main Results:
- The developed method allows for the detection of acetone concentrations below parts per million (ppm).
- The immobilized reagent demonstrates high selectivity for acetone.
- The colorimetric reaction provides a measurable visible spectrum change correlated with acetone levels.
Conclusions:
- This approach enables the creation of a portable optical sensing device for real-time, non-invasive acetone analysis.
- The technology offers a promising, simplified method for monitoring diabetic conditions at the point-of-care.
- Further development could lead to widespread use in diabetes management and diagnostics.
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